The Exponential Nature Of Happiness

I had an interesting moment yesterday at church in the bathroom. A lady came up to me and told me that I was beautiful and gorgeous, and I just kinda stood there feeling awkward and being like "ummmm...thanks." Seriously though, it made me feel really good inside that someone thought that I, in my shorts, t-shirt, slept in hair, glasses, and face without makeup, was "gorgeous". We don't often think about the effect that little things like compliments can have on a person's day, but it can really be rather acute.

For example, I read an article once that was talking about how the author's boyfriend would always smile and wave at random people in cars while he was driving. It was weird and awkward, and sometimes he would get a smile and wave back, sometimes a weird look, and sometimes no response. The author asked why he kept doing it. The boyfriend responded that they had done a survey asking people who had attempted committing suicide if they would have tried it if a stranger had smiled at them that morning and acknowledged their existence, and most of them said they would not have. He said that if he could make that kind of a difference in ANYONES day, he wanted to do that.

We're all kinda floating around on this ball we call a planet, trying to make sense of our existence, and so often we ignore each other and don't acknowledge the struggles around us or the beauty and good things in the world. Things like happiness.

I have a friend who believes that happiness is a finite resource. Since there is only so much to go around, you must either give your own happiness to someone else, or take their happiness for your own.

I think it works differently. I think happiness grows exponentially. That one lady in the bathroom said I was beautiful, and it brought a smile to my face. I began thinking about spreading happiness and smiles, so I turn around and do something nice for other people because we're all kinda here trying to flounder through this thing called life. The least we could do is help each other out a little! So the happiness is spread and grows and grows and grows.

I got a card today from one of my Endo pen pals wishing me a pain free day and reminding me of all my Endo sisters out there fighting the same battles I am. Simple, kind, and unexpected. It made me feel good. I wanted others to feel good as well, and thought it was a good idea, so I turned around and made some cards for struggling Endo sisters and care packages for ED fighters in inpatient treatment.

Its the little things.